Tool for removing connectors from treads



March 18, 1947.

w.-L. CROSBY 2,417,456

TOOL FOR REMOVING CONNECTORS FROM TREADS Filed Sept. 21, 1944' z-sheets-sheetl weum L. Ermsby March 18, 1947.

w. 1.. CROSBY 2,417,456 TOOL FOR REMOVING CONNECTORS FROM TREADS Filed Sept. 21, 1944 Z'Sheets-Sheet 2 FiE| |1| .2 4 I WEl CU'FL 1... [11905137 w g HM MM Patented Mar. 18, 1947 TOOL FOR REMOVING CONNECTORS FROM TREADS Welton L. Crosby, Phoenix, Ariz.

Application September 21, 1944, Serial No. 555,161

(Granted under the act or March 3, 1883, as

amended April so, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 9 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of'any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to tools and more particularly to a tool for removing connectors from the treads of track laying vehicles.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tool adapted to remove connectors from tank treads in order that the treads may be either v repaired, reversed, or replaced.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a tool of the type mentioned above wherein the upper part of the connector is supported while removing the connector from the tread so that the removal thereof is facilitated.

Track-laying vehicles have a pair of endless tracks composed of connected blocks or treads. Each tread has embedded therein a pair of pins extending beyond opposite sides of the tread. Adjacent treads are pivotally connected by connectors mounted upon the extending portions of the tread pins. It is frequently necessary to remove some or all of the treads for replacement or repair purposes. In addition, the conventional type of tread can be reversed when one side has worn down from contact with the ground so that the opposite and unused side of the tread is positioned on the outside of the track. The connectors connecting adjacent treads have upstanding ears extending inwardly of the track and engageabie with the sprockets for driving the track. The removal of these connectors from the pins embedded in the treads is an extremely difiicult 'operation with ordinary tools since it is impossible to apply an axial force or blow to the connector. Striking the extending ear of the connector with a hammer or similar instrument is the conventional method for removing the connectors. This, however, results in bending the connectors and causing them to bind on the pins, thus consuming a large amount of labor and time and frequently damaging the connectors so that they cannot be used again.

The tool embodied in the present invention eliminates the above mentioned disadvantages of the conventional practice and facilitates the re moval of the connectors. This is accomplished by providing a punch having an extending arm terminating in a hook shaped end, the latter being adapted to engage the upper part of the connector and to thereby support the latter while driving the connector from the tread pins. This arm may be either rigidly mounted upon the punch, or may be resiliently connected thereto by means of a. spring, and functions to hold back the top of the connector thus preventing the latter from binding on the tread pins during its removal therefrom.

Other objects of the invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a tool embodying the present invention in position for removing a connector from a pair of adjacent treads;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the construction shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a modified form of a tool;

Figure 4 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the modification shown in Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a front elevation of another modification.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be noted that Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment of the present invention. In detail, I and 2 are adjacent treads of the track of a track-laying vehicle. Embedded in each track and extending a. short distance beyond each side thereof are a pair of pins 3. The treads I and 2 are pivotally connected together by connectors 4, each of which is provided with a pair of apertures 5 adjacent the bottom thereof and adapted to engage the extending portions of the pins 3. Extending upwardly from each connector is an arcuate ear 6 which is adapted to engage the drive sprockets to drive the track as well as to guide the latter. These connectors are assembled to the treads of the track by driving them-upon the pins 3. Once assembled, however, it is difficult to remove the connectors without damaging either the connectors or the pins since it is impossible to apply force upon the connector in a direction axially of the pins. The treads prevent any force from being applied to the connector except at points laterally spaced from the apertures 5. In addition, the upstanding ears 6 of the connectors on the opposite side of the treads likewise hinder the application of force in an axial direction. It

' will be noted that if a force such as a blow from a hammer is applied to an ear 6 of a connector, there is a resulting tendency of the connector to bind upon the pins 3, and either the connector or the pins may be damaged.

1 is a punch having a driving end 8 and a driven end 9 and constructed of any suitable metal such as hardened steel. The punch is shown as being tapered from a larger diameter at the driven end 9 to a smaller diameter at the drivpunch is driven against the terminates in a hook shaped end It which is adapted to hook over the upper portion of the ear of the connector t. The length of the arm H and the driving end 8 of the punch are so proportioned that the punch is positioned of the connector adjacent the top of the tread, the hook I2 will engage with the topof the con-I prevent the latter from binding on the pins 3 while the connector is being removed. An additional advantage of this construction resides in the fact that the relative movement between the arm 233 and the punch l3 permits the useofthe tool with various types'and sizes of connectors.

The construction shown in Figures 3 and 4 also includes. means for guiding the punch with respect to the connectors. This means comprises when the driving end of against the inner surface nector 4. It will be noted that in this position U the punch 9 is positioned at an angle with the pin 3 in order to provide clearance between the punch and the top of the connector A on the opposite side of the track.

In the position described above and illustrated in Figure 2, it will be noted that when force is applied to the driven end 9 of the punch by a hammer or other suitable means, that force is transmitted through the body of thepunch and is applied against the connector in an outwardly direction as near as possible to the axes of the pins 3. At the same time the hook i2 upon the arm 1 l is in engagement with the top of the ear 6 of the connector and functions to hold back the latter, thus preventing the connector from bendingand also from binding upon the pins 3. In this manner, the connectors can be readily removed from the treads in a relatively short time and with the minimum of eifort and also without damaging the connector or the tread pins. This permits the treads of a track-laying vehicle to be rep-laced or reversed in a much shorter time than has heretofore been possible and inasmuch as there are a great number of treads and connectors in each track, it will be apparent that the saving of time is large.

Referring now to F'gures 3 and 4, it will be noted that I have illustrated a modified tool in which 63 is a punch provided with an integral collar or shoulder i l intermediate its ends. Encircling the body of the punch i3 and also the collar id is a housing 55. The housing 15 is adapted to be movable axially of the-punch and is provided with a bore it in which is received a spring ii encircling the punch 13, The forward end of the body it has an inturned flange 18 adapted to form a stop for the shoulder id on the punchand the opposite end of the body is provided with a cap 19 threaded therein and cooperating with the collar i l to retain the spring Extending iromthe upper portion ofthe body 15 is an arm 2% terminating in a hook shaped end 2| adapted toengage the upper portion of the connector ear ii. The arm 28 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the body 55. It will be noted that in this form of the invention, the arm 28; is resilientlyco-nnected to the punch l3 through the medium of the spring ii and when the parts of the tool are in the positionshown in Fi ure 'ce nring ii is un rcomnr s ion and ten'ds'to iorce'the body i5 and the arm 23 toward the .drivenend of the. punch 13). This results in holding the. hook shaped end firmly against the to-p'of the connector; and. when the connector the action of the-spring and the inertia of the arm function to hold back the top of the connector and to 'site sides of the connector 4.

a pair of guide rods 22 secured to opposite sides of the body it and extending forwardly there from a distance sufficient'to embrace the opppo- In this manner the driving end of the punch is automatically centered with respect to the connector 4 and is prevented from moving laterally with respect thereto duringremoval of the connector. The rearward end of'the' punch i3 is also guided by "means of a support 23 depending from the lower part of the body l5 at the rearward end thereof. This support is shown as being integral with the'body it: but may be made separate if desired. The forward edge of the support 23 is arcuate in shape and is inclosed by a sheet metal strip 24 which has apair of rearwardly extending legs 25 and 26, the latter being adapted to embrace the connector 4 at the side of the tread opposite the connector being removed. With this construction the legs 25 and 26 guide the tool with respect to'the rear connector, and if this connector has already been removed, the support 23 serves as a means for resting the tool upon the, tread.

The modification shown in Figure 5 is similar .to the construction of Figures 3 and 4: in that the arm 27 is resiliently mounted with respect to the punch 28. This construction includes the bracket 29 secured to the upper side of the punch 28 intermediate the ends of the latter. The bracket 29 is provided with an aperture 36 through which extends the rearward end 3! of the arm 2?. The end SI of the arm 21 is reduced in diameter and forms a shoulder 33 with the body of the arm. A spring 32 is positioned between the bracket 29 and the shouldertt formed on the arm and a second springv 3d is'positioned between the opposite side of the bracket 29 and the washer 35, the latter being held in place by a nut 36 threaded on the end 3i. With this construction, it will be noted that movement of the arm 21 in either direction relative to the punch 28 is bracket 2%? to retard and hold'ba'ck the upper part of the connector, thereby preventing it from cock? 7 ing or binding during the. removal of the connector from the tread.

Although I have shown specific modifications of my invention, it will be understood that various changes are contemplated. For example,

the punch may be provided witha relatively'wide driven. end having an elongated opening adapted toembrace the upwardly extending. portionof the connectoropposite the one being removed.

hisenab-les the punch to. be operated in a posi tion substantially paralleltothe pin. 7

4 Accordingly,the invention should not be 11 lited except .as-expr'essedin the appended claims. I What I claim is:

3i engageable with the upper part of the 1. A device for removing connectors from the treads of track-laying vehicles comprising an elongated punch having a driving end and a driven end, and an extension positioned at the driving end of said punch and terminating in a hook shaped end, said hook shaped end being laterally spaced from said driving end a predetermined distance and restrained against movement laterally away from said punch during operation of the device.

2. A device for removing connectors from the treads of track-laying vehicles comprising an elongated punch having a driving end adapted to engage the connector intermediate its ends and a driven end, and an arm extending laterally from said punch and terminating in a hook shaped end laterally spaced from the driving end of said punch and adapted to engage one end of a connector to support the latter while removing the connector, said arm being mounted for sliding movement relative to said punch.

3. A device for removing connectors from the treads of track-laying vehicles comprising an elongated punch having a driving end and a driven end, and an extension slidably mounted on said punch and having a hook shaped portion laterally spaced from said driving end, and a spring arranged to resist the sliding movement of said extension relative to said punch.

4. A device for removing connectors from the treads of track-laying vehicles comprising an elongated punch having a drivin end adapted to engage the connector intermediate its ends and a driven end, a member carried by said punch and movable longitudinally thereof, said member having an extension positioned adjacent the driving end of the punch and terminating in a hook shaped end laterally spaced from said driving end and adapted to engage one end of a connector to support the latter, and a spring urging said member toward the driven end of said punch.

5. A device for removing connectors from the treads of track-laying vehicles comprising an elongated punch having a driving end adapted to engage the connector intermediate its ends and a driven end, a member carried by said punch and movable longitudinally thereof, said member having an extension positioned adjacent the driving end of the punch and terminating in a hook shaped end laterally spaced from said driving end and adapted to engage one end of a connector to support the latter, a spring urging said member toward the driven end of said punch, and a stop on said punch for limiting the movement of said member toward the driven end of the punch.

6. A device for removing connectors from the treads of track-laying vehicles comprising an elongated punch having a driving end adapted to engage the connector intermediate its ends and a driven end, a member encircling said punch intermediate its ends and movable longitudinally relative thereto, an arm extending from said member at an acute angle to the axis of the punch, a hook shaped portion at the end of said arm adapted to engage one end of a connector, and a coil spring positioned within said member and encircling the punch, said spring having one end engageable with said punch and the opposite end engageable with said member whereby said member is urged toward the driven end of the punch.

7. A device for removing connectors from the treads of track-layin vehicles comprising an elongated punch having a driving end adapted to engage the connector intermediate its ends and a driven end, a member encircling said punch intermediate its ends and movable longitudinally relative thereto, an arm extending from said member at an acute angle to the axis of the punch, a hook shaped portion at the end of said arm adapted to engage one end of a connector, a coil spring positioned within said member and encircling the punch, said spring having one end engageable with said punch and the opposite end engageable with said member whereby said member is urged toward the driven end of the punch, and a support depending from said member and engageable with the tread to support said punch at an acute angle with the plane of the tread.

8. A device for removing connectors from the treads of track-laying vehicles comprising an elongated punch having a driving end adapted to engage the connector intermediate its ends and a driven end, a member encircling said punch intermediate its ends and movable longitudinally relative thereto, an arm extending from said member at an acute angle to the axis of the punch, a hook shaped portion at the end of said arm adapted to engage one end of a connector, a coil spring positioned within said member and encircling the punch, said spring having one end engageable with said punch and the opposite end engageable with said member whereby said member is urged toward the driven end of the punch, and a pair of guide members extending from said member toward the driving end of said punch and adapted to embrace a connector to guide the punch.

9. A device for removing connectors from the treads of track-laying vehicles comprising an elongated punch having a driving end adapted to engage the connector intermediate its ends and a driven end, a bracket extending laterally from said punch intermediate its ends, said bracket having an aperture therethrough, a rod having one end reduced in diameter and extending through the aperture, said rod having a hook shaped portion at its opposite end adapted to engage one end of a connector to support the latter, and a pair of coil springs embracing the reduced end of said rod on opposite sides of said bracket.

WEL'ION L. CROSBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 783,058 Michelin Feb. 21., 1905 1,298,820 Strobeck Apr. 1, 1919 840,938 Heller et a1 Jan. 8, 1907 489,875 Reynolds Jan, 10, 1893 617,129 Shumate Jan. 3, 1899 

